To some adventurers meal planning is a blast. To others, like most of the crew at Expedition Wire, it gets overwhelming in short order. Figuring out what needs refrigeration, putting snacks within the driver’s reach, and storing smashable items like bread easily drift to the bottom of your list of priorities. Especially, when you’re planning that epic weekend trip.
On an extended journeys meal planning becomes more critical, but for trips under a week we like to make life easy. And maybe a little more luxurious. When planning longer trips we make sure that space requirements, caloric intake, and water requirements are all in perfect balance. But, when the trip is just a few days… we get creative. Ice cream in the ARB fridge, more beer than breakfast items, and epic stews prepared in a cast iron dutch oven are the norm. There is, however, one item that remains constant regardless of other meal planning activities. We call them backpacking meals.
We use these meals to hedge against disaster (like breakdowns, emergencies, or unexpected trip extensions), but we also use them when we’re a bit lazy or when we arrive at camp later than expected. Or we want to add something extra to our meals without preparing a whole new dish. All of these options will keep you full and add a little extra flavor to a backcountry meal. They keep well in a vehicle, do not require refrigeration, and are easy to prepare. Keeping a few in your vehicle is also a great idea especially in the winter when passes close and traffic delays throw wrenches in your timeline.
Freeze Dried Backpacking Meals
If you’re hardcore you don’t have a stove. At all. Otherwise you’ll have something that looks like it is made from the carcass of a soda can. So if you’re going for speed don’t plan on anything that takes much more preparation than a bit of boiling water.
Just add water, and you’re on your way to a delicious hot meal. However, some menu items can be hit or miss. So try a few before making your final decision.
Cracking into these bad boys doesn’t always have to be a goopy and flavorless endeavor, you can easily sprinkle in a little cheese or some tortilla chips to add a little crunch and zest. What is important about these backpacking meals is that they offer all the essential nutrients you need, including often difficult to come by protein. Granted, if have the right food storage container, a cooler, or fridge/freezer on your trip you can bring along all your necessary protein. But, if you are traveling light, you can supplement your protein with a prepackaged backpacking meal!
These meals are also ideal for emergency situations at home and while overlanding.They’re also great as an “add-on” to your regular meals to give you the caloric boost you are craving. Whether you add in some biscuits and gravy to the chicken you just sautéed in the pan or have brought along quick cook rice or noodles, these meals are all super easy to make. If you’ve decided to go hard core, or rather your camp cooking equipment is on the fritz you can count on these bags to keep you filled.
Larger packages are also available from Mountain House. These are great for group adventures or for use at home during an emergency or natural disaster.
Quick and Easy
You never know when hunger will strike at the wrong time. Especially when you have kids in the vehicle. With little ones a rumbling tummy will turn a delightful drive into a complete nightmare. Even adults get a little cranky when hunger sets in and food is miles or even hours away. That’s why we always keep a few snacks in the glove box or console. Here are some of our favorites.
Keep in mind that these tasty treats serve two major purposes whether you are in the vehicle or on foot: raise your blood sugar and give you energy. Cross country trekking, whether you are backpacking or jumping in the 4×4 is definitely not the time to start a new diet or a juice cleanse. The goal here is to keep everyone fed, energy levels up, and blood sugar stable. You’ll notice in the table above that there is quite a bit of sugar in these snacks, and this not a coincidence. These high performance energy bars, chew blocks, and gels provide a punch of simple carbohydrates to fill you up and provide extra energy.
Meals, Ready to Eat (aka MRE’s)
Sure, eating a milspec meal sounds like a great idea, right? Probably not. Neither backpacking nor overlanding is at the forefront of Uncle Sam’s mind when he orders thousands upon thousands of packaged shelf-stable meals for fueling America’s fighting forces. MRE’s are fairly clunky. Soldiers and Marines frequently field strip (strip away any unnecessary bits) as they complete package is full of things you don’t need. They’re fun to try once or twice, but if you’re not hunting down bad guys or on a humanitarian mission there are better options. But, in thier defense MRE menu options are much, much better than they were in the 90’s.
So why would you buy these seemingly gross meals? They are great in a pinch, and even if you don’t use them the first time around, don’t worry! The shelflife of MRE’s can extend up to seven years! The meals have high caloric values and you don’t even need to boil water to heat them. And, they even come in breakfasts, lunches, and dinners.
Next time you’re planning an overland trip, toss an MRE or two into your vehicle, and rest easy without worrying about a stove failure or hungry adventurers. Whether there is an emergency, road block, or unexpected mouths to feed; you’ll be well prepared with an MRE in the rig.
Final Thoughts
Creating a full meal for yourself at home can seem challenging, but the idea of doing it in the outdoors, for a large group of people, can be downright daunting. The prepackaged meals, above, take some of the pain out of prep work, counting calories, and cooking. If you are worried about flavor or getting your kids to eat more than one prepackaged meal consider adding spices, fruit or fresh vegetables. Here are a few tips to consider when you’re going to consider including backpacking meals (or meals) to your menu.
First…
Make sure that you are not taking in too many… or too few calories. Luckily for us, most of our adventures involve overland vehicles, so over packing doesn’t mean that your back will be aching in the morning. However, it is important to remember that backpacking meals are designed to refuel a backpacker after a day of hiking. If most of your day is spent behind the wheel, reduce accordingly. Depending on what you are doing on your trips make sure you are packing enough food for about 2,500 calories a day. If you’re more active, increase that number as you see fit.
Second…
Don’t try new meals mid-adventure. Regardless of whether you are feeding kids or adults, people have both sensitive digestive systems and palates. New tastes are great for a dinner party, but you don’t want to flop on one of your meals if you only brought a few options. Eat what you know you like to eat. Oh, and be sure to check for allergies. A reaction in the middle of nowhere can be deadly.
Third…
If you’re headed out into the cold and snow on your adventure be sure to have a backup plan for food. Backpacking meals can provide a great additional way to get the calories you need and if all else fail they are almost ready to eat. Just add hot water. Also, in the cold your body is going to burn more calories trying to keep warm so consider increasing the calorie count.
Fouth…
Go ahead and get your GORP on; or as many of us know it, trail mix. GORP (Good Old Raisins and Peanuts) is a tasty treat that brings back memories. Delicious M&Ms and salty nuts may seem like it’s more in the unhealthy category than a staple, but out on the road or in the forests this snack is going to be perfect. It’s high in calories, gives you plenty of sweet carbohydrates, and is easy to nibble on.
Finally, there aren’t many things that will boost morale more than a hot meal. When you’re too tired to cook a full meal prepackaged backpacking meals (and MRE’s) are a lifesaver. And, have fun trying new things!
